Shoe with Heel Cutout

ABSTRACT

A shoe comprising an inner lining, upper portion, and optionally a heel counter in between the inner lining and upper portion. A cutout is positioned at the heel of the shoe, that cuts out the inner lining, upper portion, and heel counter where the shoe&#39;s heel comes into contact with the top of the calcaneus bone and above. The empty space from the cutout is replaced with a heel cutout filler that has some degree of stretchiness. The inner lining, upper portion, and heel cutout filler are stitched together to form the heel of the shoe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to footwear, and in particular to footwear with improved heel comfort.

Description of the Related Art

Most shoes provide a form of heel support, to help the shoe grip onto the heel portion of a person's foot. This heel support is generally provided through a heel counter 100, which refers to an insert, usually plastic, used to reinforce the heel cup of a shoe. The heel counter 100 allows for the shoe to cradle the heel and arch, and reduces over-pronation. The heel counter 100 encourages the shoe heel to move with the calcaneus bone. The effect is a foot that is better locked into the shoe, and a wearer's heel that is anchored to the mid-sole.

A heel counter 100 is generally placed, and hidden between the shoe's upper 230 and liner 220 (aka inner lining or inner liner). The upper 230 and liner 220 are generally sewn together at the top edge of the shoe, which encloses the heel counter 100. The heel counter 100 has a bottom portion that allows for part of the heel counter 100 to be under the insole 210.

With athletic shoes, there is often a fair amount of padding placed within the inner liner. This provides a snug fit for the wearer, and also improves comfort. The cushioning helps the wearer from feeling the rigid heel counter against the wearer's heel. With shoes that do not provide cushioning, such as dress shoes and high heel shoes, the wearer is prone to feeling discomfort from the heel counter. The heel counter can cause chafing and discomfort, often at the Achilles tendon area.

One prior art method of providing comfort is to apply external gel or heel grips, which go on with an adhesive. There are also shoes that add cushioning within the inner lining and upper. These have disadvantages, which patent application Ser. No. 15/402,336 (filed Jan. 10, 2017), Ferguson, addresses. One major disadvantage according to Ferguson is the increased thickness of the heel portion of the shoe introduced by the added cushioning. Ferguson focuses on addressing this by reducing the thickness at the heel for shoes with additional cushioning, and Ferguson does this by removing a portion of the heel counter.

There is a need for improving comfort from the heel counter in the Achilles tendon area, while still providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance of a thin heel. There is also a desire to provide further flexibility beyond what cushioning can provide in the Achilles tendon area.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A shoe with a heel cutout is described herein. In an embodiment, a shoe has an inner liner cutout, a corresponding upper portion cutout, and a corresponding heel counter cutout. The cutout is located at the heel of the shoe, and in particular, from the part of the shoe that comes into contact with the top of the calcaneus bone, and above. The cutout portion is replaced with a heel cutout filler that is generally stretchy. The inner liner, upper portion, and heel cutout filler are stitched together to form the heel of the shoe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the prior art, specifically a heel counter;

FIG. 2 is a perspective, cutaway view of the prior art;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of a shoe with a heel cutout;

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of a shoe with a heel cutout;

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of a shoe with a heel cutout from FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of another embodiment of a shoe with a heel cutout; and

FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of a shoe with a heel cutout from FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIG. 2, a conventional shoe has a heel counter 100 that is designed to thoroughly cover the heel area around the calcaneus bone. The heel counter 100 is generally tall enough to cover most, or all, of the posterior heel portion of a person's foot. The calcaneus bone contains the starting point of the Achilles tendon, which attaches the calf and its muscles to the heel. As such, the heel counter 100 generally covers the lower portion of the Achilles tendon.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a shoe with a heel cutout. The heel cutout is comprised of having a cutout on the inner lining 330, heel counter 320, and upper 310. The heel cutout is positioned such that it removes the heel counter 320 from the top of the calcaneus bone, and above. This is where the start of the Achilles tendon resides, and this is often where discomfort can arise from the stiffness and rigidity of the heel counter. In this embodiment, the cutout is similar to a “U” shape.

Creating a shoe with a heel counter cutout can be performed by either, taking a conventional shoe and retroactively generating the cutout, or by manufacturing the shoe with the heel counter cutout already having the cutout. When retrofitting a conventional shoe with a heel cutout, the stitching at the top edge of the shoe, which holds the inner lining 330 and upper 310 is unstitched at the rear of the shoe. This allows for the heel counter 320 to be exposed. The heel counter 320 may be removed from the shoe, to perform the cut out, or the heel counter 320 may be cut out while in the shoe. The inner lining 330 and upper 310 are also cut with a corresponding cutout.

After all the materials have the necessary cutout, then the heel counter 320 is reassembled back into the shoe. An elastic, soft material in the same shape as the cutout is used to fill the void generated from the cutout. This heel cutout filler 410 is stitched into the shoe. The stitching seals the inner lining 330 to the upper 310 together, while also stitching the heel cutout filler 410 to the shoe. This stitching also helps to hold and lock in the heel counter 320 within the shoe. An embodiment of a shoe with a heel counter cutout can be seen in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. The heel cutout filler 410 provides significantly improved comfort for the wearer's heel, and can also serve to provide elasticity for limited expansion of the shoe's heel portion. The heel cutout filler 410 can be a single layer of material, or can be multiple layers. The heel cutout filler 410 can be made from various materials that are stretchable, such as elastics, stretchable fabric, stretchable PU (polyurethane), and stretchable leather. A material with at least 10% stretch is preferred, and other embodiments may have varying degrees of stretch.

In other embodiments, the heel cutout may vary in shape other than the “U” shape from FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show another embodiment with a different heel cutout shape. Though the heel cutout shape is different, the heel cutout is still positioned such that it removes the heel counter from the top of the calcaneus bone, and above. The heel cutout filler 610 is catered to the heel cutout shape, as seen in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. The heel cutout filler 610 covers the void from the heel cutout, and more in the case of the embodiment in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. A larger than necessary heel cutout filler 610 may be done for various reasons, such as aesthetics, manufacturing convenience, or increased comfort.

In another embodiment, a shoe may not have an internal heel counter. The inner liner and upper portion may be made of materials that are sufficiently rigid enough to provide heel support. In this embodiment, a heel cutout may still be desired, and can be created by having an inner liner cutout and upper portion cutout. The heel counter cutout would not be necessary as there is no heel counter. A heel cutout filler may be stitched to the inner liner cutout and upper portion cutout as in other embodiments.

Although the present invention has been described in detail with respect to certain embodiments and examples, variations and modifications exist which are within the scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A shoe comprising: an inner lining with an inner lining cutout, wherein said cutout is situated from the top of a wearer's calcaneus bone and above; an upper portion with an upper portion cutout corresponding to said inner lining cutout; a heel counter with a heel counter cutout corresponding to said inner lining cutout and upper portion cutout, wherein said heel counter is between said inner lining and said upper portion; and a heel cutout filler stitched onto said inner lining and said upper portion, wherein said heel cutout filler corresponds to the shape of said inner lining cutout, said upper portion cutout and said heel counter cutout.
 2. The shoe of claim 1 wherein said heel cutout filler has a stretch of at least 10%.
 3. The shoe of claim 2 wherein said heel cutout filler is comprised of elastics.
 4. The shoe of claim 2 wherein said heel cutout filler is comprised of stretchable PU.
 5. The shoe of claim 2 wherein said heel cutout filler is comprised of stretchable leather.
 6. The shoe of claim 2 wherein said heel counter cutout is U shaped.
 7. A shoe comprising: an inner lining with an inner lining cutout, wherein said cutout is situated from the top of a wearer's calcaneus bone and above; an upper portion with an upper portion cutout corresponding to said inner lining cutout; and a heel cutout filler stitched onto said inner lining and said upper portion, wherein said heel cutout filler fills the empty portion from said inner lining cutout and said upper portion cutout.
 8. The shoe of claim 7 wherein said heel cutout filler has a stretch of at least 10%.
 9. The shoe of claim 8 wherein said heel cutout filler is comprised of elastics.
 10. The shoe of claim 8 wherein said heel cutout filler is comprised of stretchable PU.
 11. The shoe of claim 8 wherein said heel cutout filler is comprised of stretchable leather.
 12. The shoe of claim 8 wherein said heel counter cutout is U shaped. 